Effects of hypothermia upon endothelial cells: mechanisms and clinical importance

The endothelial cell is vital in the regulation of blood vessel wall structure, vasomotor tone, and thrombogenicity. Hypothermic temperatures alter both the physiological and biochemical dynamics of endothelial cells. However, there has been no systematic investigation of the influence of cold temperatures upon endothelial cell biology. This review summarizes the current clinical areas of interests, identifies the problems, and addresses the fundamental requirement for further research in endothelial cell cryobiology.